Anthony Soto
Reminder Publishing file photo
HOLYOKE — In what was a relatively swift Feb. 23 meeting, the Holyoke School Committee granted a three-year contract to Anthony Soto that allows him to begin his tenure as the School Department’s chief of finance and operations on July 1.
Soto, who currently serves as the interim superintendent for Holyoke Public Schools, will be the department’s permanent chief of finance from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029, according to the contract approved by the committee.
The unanimous approval came with no discussion by the committee or any comments from Soto during the Feb. 23 meeting, which was held remotely as the region was recovering from major snowstorm.
The new contract comes just over one year after Soto was named the interim superintendent of HPS and almost five years after he last served in the chief of finance role. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education appointed him as the receiver in 2021, a title he held onto during his time as interim superintendent. According to past Reminder Publishing reporting, he was the department’s third receiver during HPS’s 10 years under state receivership.
He took the role of interim superintendent last July when local governance of the school district was restored. Soto chose not to apply for the permanent superintendent position when it was posted in December 2025.
The School Committee embarked on an “intensive search” and interview process that included three finalists for the permanent superintendent role. After a round of interviews across three days, current Assistant Superintendent Jackie Glasheen was appointed by the School Committee as the district’s next superintendent, a position she will helm on July 1 after contract negotiations ensue and a salary is finalized.
Aside from serving as receiver and interim superintendent, Soto was previously the School Department’s chief financial and operations officer from 2016-2021. He also worked in Springfield Public Schools for 10 years prior to coming to Holyoke, where he began as a financial analyst before he was promoted to budget director.
According to the contract that the School Committee approved, Soto will have a annual salary of $190,000.
